TFL take a hardline approach to fare evasion and even relatively minor matters are reported to their prosecution team. An initial letter (known as a ‘verification letter’) is sent out by TFL, asking whether the offence is accepted and providing a chance to outline any mitigation.
The letter warns that ‘legal proceedings may be taken against you’, so it is essential to receive quality legal advice before responding, especially given the possible consequence of receiving a criminal conviction.
Verification Letters are sent out in a wide variety of circumstances. Often the issue may be the misuse of high value travel cards, such as Freedom Passes, 60+, Staff Nominee Passes, or 11-15 & 16+ zip cards. TFL policy guidance specifically mentions the misuse of Freedom passes as a reason for a prosecution, therefore it is clearly a scenario which TFL take extremely seriously.
TFL will also send Verification letters to people who have entered an Overground platform without tapping on. They often suspect that this could be a sign of a pattern of fare avoidance.
Another example is where people are travelling via one of TFL’s train routes to Heathrow, Reading, Hayes or Shenfield. TFL will consider prosecuting those who have boarded without a ticket or have only paid for a part of a longer journey.
Our specialist fare evasion team has unrivalled experience in defending these cases and we have an excellent track record in prevent prosecutions. We understand the importance of obtaining supporting documents and drafting effective written representations, which address TFL’s criteria.
If your matter has progressed to a court summons at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, TFL will still consider any representations to withdraw the legal proceedings. As with a matter at an earlier stage, the chances of success will depend on the quality of the mitigation point and supporting documents.
If you would like to receive advice from our fare evasion team, please contact us here or email us at fareevasion@reeds.co.uk
How do I respond to the TFL letter?
Your response to TFL has legal ramifications and plays a critical role in deciding what happens next.
TFL allow 10 days for you to provide a response. The letter asks you to confirm the name and address of the ‘person being reported’ (i.e. you), as well as your date of birth and email address.
The critical section is where the letter asks ‘if you deny committing the offence, please explain why’. And ‘if you accept committing an offence please provide any exceptional reasons…’
The fare evasion bylaw, which TFL prosecute, is a ‘strict liability’ offence. This means that TFL do not have to prove that you were dishonest or you intentionally evaded the fare.
How can a solicitor help with a TFL information request letter?
We understand that it is extremely stressful to face potential legal proceedings for the first time, especially if you have never been in any kind of trouble before.
Our TFL fare evasion solicitor can submit a detailed letter of representation on your behalf, arguing that a prosecution would be disproportionate and not in the public interest.
TFL will consider specific ‘mitigating’ factors in deciding whether it is appropriate to withdraw a prosecution and often require ‘exceptional circumstances’ to be proved. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the relevant factors and to outline them in a persuasive and effective way. We tailor our representations accordingly and carefully consider TFL’s own policies and guidance.
The aim would be to persuade TFL to issue a Formal Warning (rather than a prosecution).
The starting point of our service is a conference, which we can offer either virtually (Microsoft Teams) or in person. This is an opportunity to take detailed instructions about your personal circumstances, background, and the potential impact of a conviction. We need to carefully explore what supporting documents can be obtained on your behalf to maximise your chance of success.
We often see clients who have panicked upon speaking to the Inspector and have given misinformation to various questions. In our experience, this is a point which needs to be carefully addressed in any reply to TFL.
What should I do if I have received a court summons?
TFL prosecute via the Single Justice Procedure or in open court listings at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court. Typically, they charge under the following offence:
You did enter a compulsory ticket area without having with you a valid ticket, contrary to Byelaw 17(1) of the Transport for London Railway Byelaws made under paragraph 26 of Schedule 11 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 and confirmed under section 67 of the Transport Act 1962.
TFL are obliged to consider representations at any stage, so it is still possible to avoid a conviction if ‘exceptional circumstances’ or ‘sufficient mitigation’ can be established.
If you have a court listing at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, you will likely have an ‘Offences to be Taken into Consideration’ schedule at the back of the paperwork, listing additional occasions where TFL suspect you have avoided your fare. We can advise about the significance of this and how to respond if you do not accept all of the offences.
We can also provide you will legal representation on your court appearance date, which can be of great assistance, especially if you are anxious about appearing in the court.
What are my chances of success?
While we can never guarantee that TFL will agree to settle your matter out of court, we can promise to put you in the best possible position. Every case is different so please contact us if you would like specific advice with regard to the chances of success.
We have perfected our approach for many years and as our testimonials show, we have consistently achieved excellent results.
Testimonials
Excellent Service – 21st June 2025 / Review Solicitors.com
I got myself into a difficult situation with TfL earlier this year, and Nathan was extremely helpful with identifying the next steps and provided much needed clarity on the possible outcomes. His legal advice and response to TfL ultimately led to the issue being resolved outside of court, which was the best possible outcome.
I would highly recommend Nathan’s services to others!
Impeccable service and easily worth the money – 10th January 2025 / Review Solicitors.com
Nathan provides an impeccable service, which allowed me to avoid a fine and a criminal record, and receive only a warning letter. He was calm, clear and gave an accurate picture of my chances of success. He also quickly clarified a lot of misconceptions I had regarding potential penalties, which greatly reassured me. And crucially, he drew on his deep knowledge and experience in this area, to inform me of the mitigating circumstances TFL are most receptive to, and in turn, the strongest parts of my case and which pieces of evidence we needed to provide and highlight. Without this insightful appraisal of the situation, I would not have responded to TFL anywhere near as effectively, and think I would most probably have been prosecuted. The process was remarkably efficient and speedy, and I received prompt responses throughout. The only reason I picked Nathan was because of the reviews on here, and I would urge you if you’re reading to do the same – it’s worth it.
TFL fare evasion – 19th August 2024 / Review Soliciors.com
After receiving a court summons for travelling incorrectly with a 60+ Oyster my heart fell and I was panicked at the thought of a court hearing, criminal conviction and the possible implications on my career. After googling my options, several searches led me to Reeds solicitors and in particular Nathan.
After an initial video call which was promptly set up and a conversation discussing my options, Nathan informed me of my possible chances of success. I decided to proceed with appealing and with Nathan’s help we drafted representation to the court. I have just heard today that thankfully the matter will be resolved out of court. This could not have been done without Nathan and I strongly recommend him to anyone in this position. For weeks I have been stressed but he helped to calm my nerves and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. Fantastically professional and helpful.
Example of Verification Letter
TFL Restricted
Transport for London
Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security
9G4 Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ
Email: IAP@tfl.gov.uk
www.tfl.gov.uk
[Date]
[Case Number]
Dear [NAME]
On [DATE] you were reported to Transport for London (TfL) for an offence(s) on the TfL Public Transport Network. The facts of this incident are being considered and I must advise you that legal proceedings may be taken against you in accordance with Transport of London’s prosecution policy.
In order for TfL to deal with this case correctly, please return the information requested on the reverse of this letter, by e-mail to IAP@tfl.gov.uk within 10 days, including the case number stated above. Alternatively, you can send the letter by post.
You do not have to reply to this letter but it may harm your defence if you do not mention something now which you may later rely on in court. Anything you do provide in writing my be used in evidence.
Failure to respond to this letter may result in the matter being progressed by Transport for London without further notification.
If you require further information please go to; https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/prosecutions and see the Revenue Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.
Transport for London, its subsidiaries and service providers, will use your personal information for the purposes of administering enforcement activity, including prosecutions, penalty fares, responding to appeals, and fraud prevention. We may also share your personal information with London Councils, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, relevant Tran Operating Companies, Credit Reference Agencies, Debt Collection Agencies and Court appointed Bailiffs for these purposes. Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. In certain circumstances, TfL may also disclose your personal information to the police and other law enforcement agencies for the purpose of prevention or detection of crime. Further information on how we use your data can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk/privacy.
Case No. [Number] PLEASE COMPLETE THIS SECTION IN BLOCK CAPITALS
Last Name of person reported ____________
First Names ____________
Date of Birth ____________
UK Address ____________
Telephone Number ____________
Email Address ____________
Date ____________
Signed ____________
- If you deny committing an offence, please explain why and provide any available evidence.
- If you accept committing an offence, please provide any exceptional reasons including pre-existing medical conditions that you may feel are relevant and evidence to support this, as to why TfL should not proceed with a prosecution
- If this is in relation to a ticket irregularity, then if you were unable to produce a pass because you did not have it with you or if your pass was withdrawn because you were unable to produce a valid photocard to accompany it, please enclose a photocopy of the pass/photocard with your reply.
